Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Meeting recessed

City Council has recessed for lunch and will resume at 2:00PM.  Debate will resume on the 2009 Operating Budget.
 

Motion by Councillor Peter Milczyn

Councillor Peter Milczyn has placed the following motion:

EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET

Moved by: Councillor Milczyn

A. 1. Recommendation 80.5.a of the Executive Committee be amended by reducing the local municipal general tax levy for 2009 by $41.55 million to $3,313,639,120.

2. Recommendation 80.5.b of the Executive Committee be amended to reduce the proposed property tax rates:

a. the proposed 4% increase be reduced to 2.00% for the unrestricted property classes (residential, new multi-residential, pipelines, farmlands, and managed forests); and

b. the proposed 1.333% increase be reduced to 0.665% for the restricted property classes (commercial, industrial, and multi-residential),

and the table be revised accordingly.

3. Any 2009 year end under-expenditures be contributed to the Social Assistance Stabilization Reserve Fund.
B. The reductions to the proposed property tax rates and the increase to the Social Assistance Stabilization Reserve Fund (as outlined in Part A above) be achieved through the following package of reductions:

1. Economic Development, Culture and Tourism (Recommendation 5)
The 2009 Operating Budget for Economic Development, Culture and Tourism be reduced by $300,000 Gross and $300,000 Net, by eliminating 3 new so called “Can Do” staff positions.

2. Parks, Forestry and Recreation (Recommendation 11-12)
The 2009 Operating Budget for Parks, Forestry and Recreation be reduced by $1.532 million Gross and $ 1.532 million Net, by eliminating 25 new Operations staff positions and financing 5 new Ferry Security Positions by a 15 percent increase to Ferry fares, to generate $182,000 in additional revenue.

3. Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (Recommendation 13)
The 2009 Operating Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration be reduced by $244,000 Gross and $244,000 Net, by eliminating 2 new staff positions for Social Housing Consultants and 1 new staff position for Emergency Mass Care.

4. Policy, Finance and Administration (Recommendation 22)
The 2009 Operating Budget for Policy, Finance and Administration be reduced by $429,000 Gross and $429,000 Net, by eliminating 4 new positions in the Major Infrastructure Unit.

5. Facilities and Real Estate (Recommendation 28)
The 2009 Operating Budget for Facilities and Real Estate be reduced $1.31 million Gross and $1.31 million Net, by eliminating the equivalent of 19 new staff positions for Custodial and Caretaking services.

6. Fleet Services (Recommendation 29)
The 2009 Operating Budget for Fleet Services and any other divisions as appropriate, be reduced by $246,000 Gross and $246,000 Net, by eliminating 4 new positions.

7. Information and Technology (Recommendation 30)
The 2009 Operating Budget for Information and Technology be reduced by $414,000 Gross and $414,000 Net, by eliminating 5 new staff positions.

8. City Manager’s Office (Recommendation 33)
The 2009 Operating Budget for the City Manager’s Office be reduced by $321,000 Gross and $321,000 Net, by eliminating 6 new positions for new/enhanced functions in Employment Equity (1 position), Civic Engagement (2 positions), Human Rights (1 position), Divisional Learning (1 position), and Diverse Workforce (1 position).

9. City Council (Recommendation 35)
The 2009 Operating Budget for City Council be reduced by $576,400 Gross and $576,400 Net, by reducing the Councillor’s Office Expenses Budget by $13,100 per Councillor.

10. Legal Services (Recommendation 36)
The 2009 Operating Budget for Legal Services be reduced by $163,000 Gross and $163,000 Net, by eliminating 1 new staff position for a Lawyer to assist with Ontario Municipal Board Hearings.

11. Toronto Police Service (Recommendation 50)
The 2009 Operating Budget for the Toronto Police Service be reduced by $500,000 Gross and $500,000 Net.

12. Toronto Transit Commission - Conventional (Recommendation 59-65)
The 2009 Operating Budget for the Toronto Transit Commission (Conventional) be reduced by $8.245 million Gross and $8.245 million Net, this reduction to be an unallocated reduction, and the TTC be requested to apply this amount against all TTC functions except for the hiring of new drivers and the Ridership Growth Strategy.

13. Toronto Zoo (Recommendation 68-69)
The 2009 Operating Budget for the Toronto Zoo be reduced by $62,000 Gross and $62,000 Net, and the Board of the Toronto Zoo be requested to eliminate 2 new positions for Web Development.

14. Community Partnership and Investment Program (Recommendation 73-76)
The 2009 Operating Budget for the Community Partnership and Investment Program be reduced by $2.066 million Gross and $ 2.066 million Net, by freezing the budget at the 2008 level.

15. All Programs
The 2009 Operating Budget for All Programs be amended reduce Advertising, Promotions and Communications spending by $1.600 million Gross and $1.600 million Net across all City divisions, as determined by the City Manager.

16. All Programs and Non-Program

a. the 2009 Operating Budget for All Programs be reduced by an amount equal to the amount set aside for the renewable Lump Sum Merit Pay for Non-Union staff, for a savings of $3.00 million Gross and $3.00 million Net;

b. the 2009 Operating Budget for Non-Program be reduced by the amount set aside for a Non-Union staff cost-of-living increase, for a savings of $7.854 million Gross and $7.854 million Net;

c. the 2009 Operating Budget for Non-Program be reduced by $12.585 million Gross and $12.585 million Net to establish an efficiency savings target to be realized throughout 2009, and the City Manager and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer be requested to report back directly to City Council, before the end of 2009, on measures that have been implemented to achieve this target;

17. Agencies, Board and Commissions
The 2009 Operating Budgets for Agencies, Board and Commissions be reduced by the amounts set aside for non-union salary increases and the ABC’s be requested to freeze non-union salaries at 2008 levels for a savings of approximately $5.00 million Gross and $5.00 million Net.

Motions by Councillor Minnan-Wong

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong has placed the following motions:

EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET - City Manager’s Office
(Recommendation 33)

Moved by: Councillor Minnan-Wong

The following expenditures be referred to the Budget Committee for consideration as part of the 2010 Operating Budget, and the 2009 Operating Budget for the City Manager’s Office be reduced accordingly:

1. Civic Engagement
- the addition of 2 new positions in the Civic Engagement Office, for a savings of $114,000.

2. Divisional Learning
- the addition of 1 new position to Enhance Divisional Learning Activities, for a savings of $47,000.

3. Diverse Workforce
- the addition of 1 new position to attract a diverse workforce, for a savings of $41,000.

4. Employment Equity
- the addition of 1 new position in Employment Equity, for a savings of $66,000.

5. Human Rights
- the addition of 1 new position in Human Rights, for a savings of $53,000.


EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET – City Manager’s Office
(Recommendation 33)

Moved by: Councillor Minnan-Wong

That the 2009 Operating Budget for the City Manager’s Office be reduced by eliminating funding for the “Our Toronto” newsletter, for savings of approximately $850,000 gross and $400,000 net.

EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET – All Programs and Non-Program

Moved by: Councillor Minnan-Wong

That the 2009 Operating Budget for all divisional programs be reduced:

1. by an amount equal to the amount provided for non-union merit pay increases and, in the event Council should decide to continue all or part of the merit pay scheme for non-union staff, the City Manager and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer be authorized to make the necessary adjustments to the approved operating budget so that the programs will absorb the cost of non-union merit pay in 2009, for a savings of $8.5 million.

That the 2009 Operating Budget for non-program be reduced:

2. by an amount equal to the amount provided for the cost of living adjustment for non-union staff and, in the event Council should decide to grant a COLA increase for non-union staff in 2009, the City Manager and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer be authorized to make the necessary adjustments to the approved operating budget for non-program so that the cost of the COLA for non-union staff will be absorbed in 2009.

EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET – Community Partnership and Investment Program (Recommendations 73-76)

Moved by: Councillor Minnan-Wong

That funding for the 2009 Community Partnership and Investment Program be maintained at 2008 levels, and the 2009 Operating Budget for the Community Partnership and Investment Program be reduced accordingly, for a savings of $2 million.


EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET - Toronto Police Services Board
(Recommendation 51)

Moved by: Councillor Minnan-Wong

That the 2009 Operating Budget for the Toronto Police Services Board be reduced by $68,900, and the Toronto Police Services Board be requested to eliminate the provision of a car and driver for the Board’s Chair.

EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET - Shelter, Support and Housing Administration
(Recommendation 13)

Moved by: Councillor Minnan-Wong

That the following proposed expenditure be referred to the Budget Committee for consideration as part of the 2010 Operating Budget, the 2009 Operating Budget for Shelter, Support and Housing Administration be reduced accordingly, and staff be directed to use existing resources:

- $176,000 for the addition of 2 new positions added to administer the increase in social housing units.

EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET - Toronto Environment Office
(Recommendation 25)

Moved by: Councillor Minnan-Wong

That the following proposed expenditure be referred to the Budget Committee for consideration as part of the 2010 Operating Budget and the 2009 Operating Budget for the Toronto Environment Office be reduced accordingly:

- the Live Green Marketing Campaign, for a savings of $500,000 gross, $0 net.

EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET - Toronto Environment Office
(Recommendation 25)

Moved by: Councillor Minnan-Wong

That the 2009 Operating Budget for the Toronto Environment Office be amended by:

1. Weather Study
- deleting funding for the Weather Study, for a savings of $505,000.

2. C40 Initiative
- deleting funding in the amount of $140,000 for the C40 Initiative, and requesting the Mayor to provide the funding for this project from within the proposed budget for the Mayor’s Office.

EX30.1 2009 OPERATING BUDGET - Toronto Transit Commission - Conventional
(Recommendations 59-65)

Moved by: Councillor Minnan-Wong

That:

1. the following proposed expenditures be referred to the Budget Committee for consideration as part of the 2010 Operating Budget and the 2009 Operating Budget for the Toronto Transit Commission be reduced accordingly:

a. Peak Service
- 2008 Ridership Growth Strategy Off-Peak Service, for a savings of $21 million; and

b. Maintenance
- the addition of 25 repair and maintenance positions, for a savings of $2.235 million.

2. the 2009 Operating Budget for the Toronto Transit Commission be reduced as follows:

Health, Safety and Absenteeism
- by $5 million, in order to reflect the additional savings identified in the Health and Safety Initiative and reduced absenteeism.

3. the 2009 Operating Budget for the Toronto Transit Commission (Conventional) be reduced by $3,754,500, and the Toronto Transit Commission be requested to offset the reduction by implementing the following:

a. Route Supervisors
- reduce the number of additional route supervisors from 20 to 10, for a savings of $900,000 and 10 positions.

b. Procurement Policy
- Existing TTC procurement staff be trained by the Toronto Environmental Office in green procurement policies and practices, making the hiring of 1 additional position redundant, for a savings of $87,500.

c. Token Carriers
- delete the additional token carriers for a savings of $424,000 and use the existing token carriers to provide the same service, and use the existing 39 revenue operators and 382 other persons to accomplish the job with existing resources.

d. Non-Service Related Training
- delete non-service related training for a savings of $223,000 and 7 new positions.

e. Other Changes
- delete Other Changes for a savings of $1,300,000 and 16 positions.

f. Staff Accident Claims
- delete $820,000 for Staff Accident Claims processing and provide these services with existing resources.

Order of Business

Here is the proposed order of business for today, March 31, 2009:

9:30 a.m.

Call to Order

National Anthem

Condolence Motions

  • Joaquim Rodrigues Baptista
  • Adelaide (Laddie) Margaret Eleanor Marie Dennis

Council will review and adopt today's Order Paper*

Council considers EX30.1 - 2009 Operating Budget

12:30 p.m.

Council will recess

2:00 p.m.

Council will reconvene

Prior to 8:00 p.m.

Council will enact General Bills

Council will enact a Confirming Bill

8:00 p.m.

Council will recess

* Once the Order Paper has been approved by Council, a change requires a two‑thirds vote

If Council does not complete the Operating Budget meeting today, Council will reconvene on April 1, 2009.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Introducing the Meeting Update Blog

The City Clerk's Office will be experimenting with this blog during the Special City Council meeting on March 31 and April 1, 2009.

It's part of our ongoing effort to make the City's decision making process available on-line.

We will be using this blog to complement the Meeting Monitor by providing additional information about the status of the City Council meeting, and the status of votes and motions.

Supplementary agenda posted

The supplementary agenda for the Special City Council meeting on March 31 and April 1 is now posted online.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Agenda for the March 31 and April 1 Special Council Meeting

The agenda for the March 31 and April 1 Special Meeting of Toronto City Council has been posted.

This is a special meeting to consider the 2009 Operating Budget. The meeting will start at 9:30AM on March 31 and will be broadcast on Rogers Cable 10 and streamed live on RogersTV.com

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Next Meeting of City Council is March 31 and April 1, 2009

The next meeting of City Council is scheduled for March 31 and April 1, 2009. This will be a special meeting to consider the Executive Committee's recommendations on the 2009 Operating Budget.

No other business, including notices of motion, will be considered at this meeting.